Week 11 in the Year Of Drinking Adventurously! Irish Whiskey. (I hope I got my Irish translation right!)
That’s me waving to you from the cliffs of Dun Aengus on Innis More, one of The Aran Islands off the West Coast of Ireland. I’ve been to Ireland three times and I’m sure we’ll go again. I’m trying to figure out how to move there permanently, that’s how much I love it.
So Irish Whiskey… It’s a permanent fixture in my liquor cabinet. Most of the time I have a bottle of regular old Jameson’s in my stash.
Sometimes I splurge and buy the Red Breast, which is a “single pot still” style. A pot still is like a huge kettle where the batch is boiled, the vapors rise, are collected and cooled to produce the whiskey. Since the pot has to be cleaned after each use, only one batch of whiskey is produced from the single pot.
My imbibition of Irish whiskey generally involves a glass and some ice. Sometimes not even the ice. Occasionally not even the glass! (Just kidding!) However, I have a fun, terribly-named, politically incorrect cocktail for you to try. Actually, I’m not sure this qualifies as a cocktail. If you go to Ireland, do not ask for this drink. You will be deported. And for Paddy’s sake, don’t tell anyone you learned it from me or they’ll never let me back in.
The Irish Car Bomb: (Don’t say I didn’t warn you…)
Fill a shot glass with a half shot each, Jameson’s Irish whiskey and Bailey’s Irish Cream
Drop the shot glass into a pint glass of Guinness and watch it “explode”
Chug the whole thing in one fell swoop so you don’t lose a drop!
Enjoy responsibly! Oh wait, too late for that…
When we travel to Ireland, it’s primarily for my husband’s work. His company has a facility in Galway. I get to tag along, but that means that for most of the time, I’m off traipsing around by myself. That’s not a recipe for disaster, no. The girl who fancies herself a writer wandering around the gorgeous countryside, listening to fairy tales and visiting the pubs on her own? Not to mention the lovely men people and some of the best whiskey on the planet. What could possibly go wrong?
There are pubs that cater to the foreign visitors and there are those that are more for the locals. In Galway, I like to go to this place called Garavan’s – definitely more of a local hangout than a tourist place – where they pretend to want your business but they really don’t. And they haven’t forgiven England for… well, everything. Even stuff that’s not their fault.
So anyway, it’s dark inside, the tables are all close together with little stools crowded around. They still have a small room at the front where ladies used to have to sit separately from the main part of the pub. I think sometimes the bartender wants me to go have a seat in there. But then I can’t see the hurling match on TV. And ask him lots of questions while he tries to ignore me.
Garavan’s has a collection of 125 different whiskeys and a whiskey tasting menu. The last time I was there I tried the Irish writer’s collection – a sampler of 5 different whiskeys from a few of Ireland’s most famous writers like James Joyce, Oscar Wilde and William Butler Yeats. I forget what all I tried. But I definitely remember that the one I liked best was The Yellow Spot 12-year-old single pot still whiskey. And I remember something about the Women’s Rugby World Cup – Ireland versus England. And that they turned the TV off during “God Save the Queen.” Things got ugly when Ireland started to lose. And I made the mistake of asking for an Irish Car Bomb…
Go visit Lula and see if she found the pot o’ gold at the end of the rainbow!
Very funny, I’m sure they love to see you come into the pub! No, really!
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Right! Cringing!
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I haven’t had Irish Whiskey, but if it’s anything like single malt, I’m good. I can’t seem to acquire the taste for whiskey or bourbon. I guess I’m a light weight. Where’s the corona light????
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Well it’s a lot easier than a single malt scotch for sure but whiskey is whiskey to some! There are some nice cocktails I neglected to mention!
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Jameson’s is good, and Baileys is great, but Guiness is outstanding! Need a fork and a knife to chug a pint of it though. I’m in! 😃
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Just about! There’s a “lady’s” way to drink Guinness I’ll have to write about sometime. It’s actually really good! But I’m not one to dilute perfection! 😃
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Amen! If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I can tolerate a Black and Tan, but that borders on blasphemy. 😃
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Haha! I concur! 😂
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I am not much of a drinker but your posts are so entertaining!
“Sometimes not even the ice. Occasionally not even the glass!”
Hahaha! 😀
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Just gimme a straw! 😜
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Or a paper bag? 😉
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😂😂😂
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I’m so jealous… Everything about your excursions sound… Perfectly amazing. If you need someone to tote your bags next time I’m volunteering!
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Deal! Ireland is so much fun!
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I was in Dublin late last year. I so need to see much more of the country and drink more Jameson too.
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Dublin is fun, I loved visiting there, too. The West Coast is amazingly scenic. You won’t be disappointed! Thanks for stopping by!
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Found you through SOAB96. Happy I did.
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Well awesome! A friend of his is a friend of mine! 😃
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To his great taste in doctor bloggers 🙂
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*clink* 🍻 😃
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This Irish girl is so ready for Thursday! I’m sure you are too! 😀🍀
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Yes, indeed! Kiss a handsome Irishman (or 2!) Pink! 😍
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If I see any that day…it’s on, Meg! 😊
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👍
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Your writing makes me want to visit Ireland, not to mention how fond I’m of Irish whiskey! 😀
Ohhh when oh when do I get a chance to visit Ireland!
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I know! We might get to go again later this year. I have to get my passport renewed!
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I am getting myself a bottle of Jameson and not even bothering with a glass for Easter.:-)
Love the descriptions. They have me debating if I want to go to Ireland for a visit…or get an irish man and settle their forever!:-)
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If you have the chance to visit I highly recommend it! And if you find a handsome Irish man? (Which is not hard to do) even better!!
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What a magnificent post this is. Irish whiskey is fantastic, and the people are great, but they really don’t like we British do they!
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Not the guys at Caravan’s anyway! 😀
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And thank you!
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You sure make me want to try this even though my head is not strong for alcohol, though I occasionally sip from hubby’s glass before bedtime 🙂
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Oh I love the Irish whisky! It’s probably my favorite!
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